The military coup in Madagascar has ended: President Andry Rajoelina has fled the country after the army sided with mass protests.

According to Reuters, he departed on a French military aircraft after the elite CAPSAT unit and parts of the gendarmerie joined the demonstrators.

The day before, Rajoelina flew by helicopter to Saint Marie Island on Madagascar’s east coast, then boarded a plane to the French island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean, from where he and his family reportedly flew on to Mauritius or the UAE.

Radio RFI, citing informed sources, reported that the evacuation of the Malagasy president was authorized by French leader Emmanuel Macron to ensure a peaceful transition.

The protests began on September 25 over water and electricity shortages but quickly escalated into an uprising against corruption and poverty. Rajoelina, who came to power after the 2009 coup, had rapidly lost the support of the security forces in recent weeks.

The likely interim leader of Madagascar will be Major General Demosphen Picolas, commander of the elite CAPSAT unit.